Pumping system



March 17, 1925-. 1,529,693

c. w. DENNIS PUMPINGv SYSTEM Filed May 5, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l 271W fmMarch 17; 1925- 1,529,693

c. w. DENNIS PUMP'ING SYSTEM Filed May SQ 1922 2 sheets-sheet, 2

Patented Mar. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES CHARLES W. DENNIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

i w PUMPING SYSTEM.

Application filed May 3, 1922.

T all whom it may concern.'

-Be it known that I, CHARLES iV. Dennis. a citizen of the United States,and resident of Chicago,in the county of Cook and Stat ot' Illinoisha-veinvented ay certain new and useful Improvement in Pumping Systems, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in pumping systems, and isparticularly concerned with, though not limited to, improvements inpumping systems ot' the hydraulicpneumatic type,-that is, a system inwhich air under pressure is used for forcing the water from a pressuretank to the point or points of consumption.

Briey speakino', the main object oit` my invention is to provideafpumping system comprising a pressure tank, air and Water pumps forrespectively supplying air and water under pressure to the pressuretank, and an internal combustion engine for driving the air and Waterpumps, means being provided for automatically starting and stopping theinternal combustion engine to maintain the pressure in the pressure tanksubstantially constant, or, at least, to maintain it betweenpredetermined high and low values.

.Another object of my invention is to provide a pumping system ot' thecharacter described, although not limited to one in -ivhich the pressureoit' the air is used for delivering the .vater to the point ofconsumption, in which the means for starting the internal combustionengine or motor is controlled by the pressure oli' the fluid, or fluids,in the pressure tank and actuated by Huid Hoiving from the pressuretank.

ii still further object ot' my invention is toV provide an automaticpumping system, comprising an internal combustion engine and means forautomatically starting and stopping it, which is vsimple inAconstruetion,l efficientto operate, rugged and reliable.

Other objects will appear as this description progresses, referencebeing had tothe accompanying drawings, in Which- 'Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a pumping system embodying my invention:

lTignreV 2 is an end elevation thereof;

.Figure 3 is a central longitudinal section through the valve forming aportion ol my improved system, A

Serial No. 5581172.

Figure 4 is a transverse section line 4 4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a more or less diagrammatic and conventional illustration ofthe ignition circuit forming u part ot my system.

Throughout the several views, similar rei"- erence characters will beused :t'or referring to similar parts.

In general, the. embodiment of my improved pumping system illustratedherein ccmprises a pressure tank 1() to ivhi ch Water is supplied by theWater pump 11 through the discharge conduit comprising the portions 12and 12. Air under pressure is supplied to the pressure tank by the airpump 13 through the discharge conduit 14.

The internal combustion engine 15 is provided with a belt pulley 15which is automatically clutched to the sha-ttorc the internal combustionengine by a speed controlled friction clutch device of Well-knownconstruction, the Weights 15a of this device being pivotally mountedupon a spider 15b secured to the shaft 15C. Il`he Weights and thesprings controlling them are so adjusted that the engine shaft would beclutched to the. belt pulley when the engine reaches a predeterminedspeed. The belt pulley 15 is connected with the air pump and Water pumpby Well-known driving connections which need not be described in detail.

Then the pumps 11 and 13 are operated by the engine 15, theyrespectively deliver Water taken on and air under pressure to the tank10. The air 'Y collects at the top ot' the tank and by its expansionforces Water out ot the tank 1G through one or more discharge pipes 1Gwhen the valve 17, or any other suitable valve, is open.

It is desirable to maintain the pressure in the tank 10 consta-nt, or,at least, to keep it between predetermined high and low values. Thismeans that some means must be provided for automatically starting theinternal combustion engine and its associated pumps when the pressure inthe tank l() falls to a predetermined low pressure, and other means forautomatically stopping the operation of these elements When the pressure reaches a predetermined high value. For this purpose I proif'ide aWater motor 18 which is mounted upon suitable supporting brackets 19,this motor being illustrated as being of the rotary type, and,therefore, comprising the rotary shait Q0 which is connected with theshaft 2l' of the internal combustion engine by means of a clutchmechanism vwhich automatically disengages Vthe motor from the internalcombustion engine shaft when the speed Aof the latter exceeds the speedof the shaft 20. The mechanism illustrated herewith is commonly known asthe Eendirior inertia gear shift and. comprises a shaft 22 which isconnected with the shaft 20 by a universal coupling 28 andI which has aspiral thread 24 ot' rather steep pitch cut on its surface. A sleeve 25is threaded upon the shaft 22 and provided with teeth 26 for engagingthe teeth 27 of the clutch member 28 which is secured to the shaft 2loit the internal combustion engine. Preferably an eccentric weight 29 issecured to the sleeve 25.

Assuming that the internalV combustion engine is not operating and thatthe water motor 1S has started, the shaft 22 will begin to rotate, butthe inertia of the` weightv 29 will prevent the sleeve 25 from rotatingand it will be moved toward the clutch member 28 by the action or" thethreads 24k until its teethv 2G engage the teeth 27 of the clutch member28, thereby establishing a driving connection between the water motorand the shaft of the internal co-mbustion engine. Continued rotation ofthe water motor will cause the internal combustion engine to start, andthe speed of the latter will increase 'until the speed of the shaft21eXceeds the speed ot lthe sha-ft 22, thereby causing the sleeve 25 tomove outwardly along the shaft 22 until its teeth 26 disengag'e theteeth 27 of the clutch `member 28. Thereafter the engine will continueto rotate until it is stopped in the manner about to be described.

l-shal'l now describe the means by which l automatically control theoperation of the "er motor 18 to start the internal com- Vation engine.lnterposed between the sections 12 and l2 of the discharge conduit otthe water pump 13v is a control valve 30 which comprises an elongatedbody member having i cylindrical bore 3l formed in one end and the valvechamber 32 formed in the opposite end. This chamber is substantiallyco-axial with the cylinder 3l and the outer ogen end thereoiu isbeveled, as shown at 33, to provide a valve seat. A. bore Aof reduceddiameter 1Iforms a continuation of the cylinder 3l and is provided withan inlet port 85 with which the section l2 ot the discharge conduit otlthe water motor communicates. A

Adjacent its inner end, the walls oi'v the cylinder 3l are provided withan outlet port 36 which extends a considerable distance around thecylinder, as shown in Figure l. The outlet port 36 communicates with anannular space 237 formed by the walls of the vbores 3l and 34, the valvechamber 32 and an outer wall 38 which extends part way around the bodymember in spaced rela-tion to the walls just mentioned. The space 3? inturn communicates with the portion l2 or' the discharge conduit of thewater pump.

Slida-bly mounted in the cylinder 3l is a piston 39. rlhevalve l() whichseats upon the valve seat 33 is connected by the piston rod 4l, whichreciprocates in the bearing 4-2 separating the valve chamber 82 and thepump 84, with the sleeve 43 having the anH nular shoulder all. Acompression spring 15, conlined between the endr the piston 39 and theannular shoulder' Ale, yieldingly holds the piston in spaced relation tothe sleeve 43. rlhe'piston rodv ll is provided with a shoulder whichacts as a limiting vstop to limit the movement of the piston 3) awaytrom the sleeve 4:3. l second compression spring l? is conlined betweenthe annular shoulder lll and a 'follower 4S, the position ot which canbe adjusted by the set screw i9 which is threaded through the kend plate50 ot' the cylinder 3l. This plate is held in position b v means otscrews 5l., or in any other suitable manner. t

It will be noted trom an inspection ot Figure 3 that the port 52 in thewall ot' the `valve chamber 32, the space 3? and the port 36 pro-videmeans Jfor establishing communiation between the cylinder 31 and thevalve chamber 32, so that the inner surface ot the valve Ll() issubjected to the. same pressure (neg-glecting static head which is sosmall as to be negligible) as that imposed upon the end ot the piston39. ly making the effective area ot the end oic the piston 39 largerthan the corresponding area ot' the valve 40, there will be anetliective diftferential pressure tending to move the piston 39upwardly. The value ot this pressure will, ot course. depend upon thepressure of the fluid in the cylinder 3l and the chamber 32, and alsoupon 'the difference in effective areas of the piston and the valve. Inany event the excess pressure exerted upon the piston will tend to movethis piston upwardly, thus compressing the springs Ll5 and 47 andtending' to hold the valve l0 in its closed position. The two springs l5and 47 can be proportioned that when the pressure in thecylinder 3l andthe chamber 32 t'alls to a certain predetermined value, the tension ofthe su Ll5 and di' will be greater than the d ential pressure tendingtohold the piston 39 in its raised position, and it will be lorceddownwardly by the springs to the lower end of the cylinder 3l. Movementoi the piston 39 to the lower end ol the cylinder 3l is permitted bydisplacement or' the water from the lower end oli the cylinder 3lthrough the port 34 which establishes communication between the bore 3stand the space 37. This movement will open the valve l0 at the same timethat theL piston 39 moves downwardly and closes the port LCI fil

and closed.

1,52 new Tater will thereupon be discharged from the tank l0 through theportion f" of the discharge conduit of the pump the space 3T, the portvalve seat chamber 53 into the pipe 5d which conveys the water to thewater motor i8 and sets itin motion.

As soon as t ie water pump begins to opcrate, the water will be forcedthrough l portion l2 of its dischar conduit into the fiil'ifier 3l,thereby causing the piston 39 t; closing the valve fm CV- ment of thepiston 3f lthe valve d@ cuts off the supply of water to the motor i8 andcauses it to cease functioning.

lt will be noted that the piston rod il is provided with bore el forventi up 3er end of the cylinder 3l into the cham* bei' 53 and forequalizing the pressures upon the opposite ends of the pison rod 4:1.This latter function is of some value when the valve Ll0 is open.,because at this time there is some back pressure in the chamber 53 andpipe which tends to c e the valve #la While various means may be usedfor causing the internal combustion engine to quit operating when thepressure in the tant: l() rises to a `predetermined value` l prefer touse means substantially like that illustrated in Figure 5 wherein l haveshown a conventional type of ignition system for the internal combustionengine comprising a battery one terminal of which is grounded, asindicated at 6l, and the other terminal of which is connected with thebinding' post 62 of a switch 63, the controlling mechanism of which islocated in the housing The switch G3 comprises the two contacts and 66which can be opened 'lhe contact 66 is connected by tie conductor 67with one terminal' of the primary of the induction coil 68. The otherterminal of this primary is grounded by the conductor 69. One terminalof the secondary of the i duction coil 68 is grounded by the conductor'70 and tie other terminal is connected by the conductor 'T1 with asuitable ignition device 72 which may be in the form of a. spark plug,or any other similar or equivalent device, one terminal of which isgrounded by the conductor 73.

A pipe Zet establishes communication between the housing 6d in which thecontrol mechanism is located and the pipe lll leading from the air pumpto the tank, so that the control mechanism in the housing 64 is controlled by the pressure in the tank. The pressure control and actuatedswitch described abo-ye may be of any well-known construction anddetailed description there is, for that reason, unnecessary. It issufficient that it provides means for automatically opening the contacts65 and 66 when the pressure in the tank l0 reaches a predetermined highValue and closing these contactsy when the pressure drops to ,apredetermined lou' value. Preferably the contacts 65 and o6 lclose at aslightly greater pressure than that at which the Valve d() is o en, sothat, when the valve et() opens, the the engine is completed, the engineto be started enabling once. The operation of my improved pumping systemis follows:

As the pressure in the tank l0 drops. it will reach apredetei 'linedvalue at which the switch will he automatically closed. thereby placingthe ignition system of the internal combustion engine in condition foroperation. As the pressure continues to decrease, a point will bereached where the springs 4:5 and i7 will exceed a differential pressureacting upon the piston 39 and bias the valve i0 to its open position,thereby permitting water under pressure to flow from the tank l0 to themotor 18. is soon as the rotary member of this motor begins to rotate,the two clutch members 25 and 28 will be locked together, whereupon theshaft of the internal combustion engine will be rotated by the motor,thus causing the inten nal combustion engine to start. As the speed ofthe intern-ai combustion engine increases, it will soon exceed the speedof the motor 1S, whereupon the driving connectionbetween the motor andthe engine will be interrupted, as described above. The speed controlledfriction clutch between the engine shaft and the belt pulley of theengine can be designed to connect the shaft and the belt pulley eitherbefore or after, but preferablyv after, the connection between the motor18 and the internal combustion engine has been broken.

As soon as the connection between the driving shaft of the engine andits belt pulparatus and thus stopping the engine. By

constructing the *salve mechanism interposed between the water pump andthe pressure tank so that the flow of water from the pump closes theValve 30, I prevent the escape of any considerable amount of water fromthe tank 10 after the water pump has once been started.

While l have described the details of construction of" the preferredembodiment of my invention, it is to be clearly` understood that myinvent-ion is not llimited to these details, but is capable of otheradaptations-and modifications within the scope of' lthe-appended claims.

Having vthus described my i invention, what I claim is:

l. The combination with a pressure tank, an air pump and a water pumpfor -respectively supplying air and water tosaid tank, of aninterna-lcombustion engine for driving said pumps, an ignition circuit for saidengine having a switch controlled by the p-ressure in said tank, a waterVmotor having a re leasable connection with said internal combustionengine, and ymeans .forsupplying water to said water motor, co-mprisingavalve inserted between said .water pump. and tank, said valve comprisinga body member havinga cylinderA formed therein, saidcylinder having aninlet port `connected vwith said pump and an outlet port connected withsaid pressure tank, said outlet port being formed in the wall ofsaidcylinder adjacent `oneend thereof, said body member having a valvechamber pro-vided with an outlet port co-axial with said cylinder, meansforestablishing `communication between said ,chamber and said cylinder,an outwardly opening valve in said chamber for opening and closing saidlast-named outletfport, a piston in said cylinder, the eiective area ofsaid piston beinggreater than the effective area ofsaid valve, a rodconnecting ,said ypistonand valve, a-nd a spring biasing saidvalve-toward its open position. V f

2.. The-combination with ai-pressure tank and a water pump forsupplyingwater to said tank, of'an internal combustion engine fordriving saidpump, 4an ignition circuit for said Vengine havinga switchcontrolled by the pressure in said tank, a water motor connectediwithsaid internal combustion engine, andy means tor supplyingwater tosaidwater motor, comprising a valve inserted -between said water pump andtank, said valve comprising a body member havingv a cylinder formedtherein, said cylinder having an inlet port connected withisaid pump andan outlet port connected with said pressure tank, said outlet portbeing' formed in the wall of said cylinder adjacent one endthereof, saidbody member having a valve chamber provided with 'an outlet port,meansfor establishing communica-tion between said chamber and said cylinder,an -outwardly opening valve in said chamber for opening and closing saidlast-named outlet port,y a piston in said cylinder, the effective areaof saidpiston being'greater than the eective 4tank for starting saidengine, and means area of said'. valve, means connecting said piston andvalve, and means biasing said valve toward its open position.

Y 3. :The combination with av pressure tank nase-,.693

anda pump forsupplying water thereto, -of an internal .combustion enginefor driving said pump, said internal combustion engine having anignition circuit, comprising a switch controlled `by the pressure insaid tank, a lmotorahaving a i'eleasableeonnection with said internalcombustion engine, and means controlled by `the pressure in said tankfor. establishing communicationA between said tank and motor when thepressure in said tank Ireachesa predetermined low value, and meansdirectly actuated by the flow of water from said pump to v.said tankfor'destroying said communication.

4. The combinations-with ay pressure tank and a pump for supplyingwaterthereto, of an internal .combustion engine for-driving said pump, amotor having a releasable-,connection with said internal combustion. en-

gine, and means controlled by` the pressure in saidtank forestablishing, communication kbetweensaid tank andinotor when thepressure in y.said tank reachesa predetermined .low valuepand meansdirectly actuated by the flow of water from said pump `to said tank. fordestroying said. communication.

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5..The combination with a pressure tank l and apump for supplyingwaterthereto, of an internal combustion .engine for driving said pump, amotor having a releasable connection with vsaid `internal combustionengine, and means for-.establishing communication between said tank .andmotor whenv gine, anda valve interposed in said water pump dischargeconduit and controlled by the pressure in said tank for connecting saidwater motor with said tank when the `pressure in saidtank falls below apredetermined value.

7 The combination with a pressure tank, of a-pump for supplying fluid tosaid tank, an internal combustion engine for driving said pump,automatic means controlledl by the pressure of the fluid in said tankvforstoppng said engine, automatic means controlled by the pressure ofthe fluid in said directlycontrolled by the flow of fluid from lsaidpump torsaid .tankfor making said lastnamedmeansinactive.

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8. The combination with a pressure tank, of a pump for supplying fluidto said tank, an internal combustion engine for driving said pump,automatic means controlled by the pressure of the fluid in said tank forstopping said engine, and auton'latic means located between said pumpand tank and controlled by the pressure of the fluid in said tank forstarting said engine.

9. 'Ihe combination with a. pressui'e tank, of a pump for supplyingfluid to said tank, a motor for driving said pump, automatic meanscontrolled by the pressure of fluid in said tank for stopping saidmotor, automatic means controlled by the pressure of the fluid in saidtank for starting said motor, and means directly controlled by the flowof fluid from said pump to said tank for making said last-named meansinactive.

10. The combination with a pressure tank, of a pump for supplying fluidto said tank, an internal combustion engine for driving said pump, andautomatic means directly controlled by the pressure of said tank and bythe flow of fluid from said pump for automatically starting and stoppingsaid engine, to keep the pressure in said tank between predeterminedhigh and low values.

11. The combination with a tank, of a pump for supplying fluid to saidtank, an internal combustion engine, a speed controlled clutch forconnecting said engine with said pump, means controlled by the pressureof the fluid in said tank for automatically starting and stopping saidpump, and means directly actuated `by the flow of fluid from said pumpfor rendering said starting means inoperative.

12. The combination with a tank, of a pump for supplying fluid to saidtank, a motor for driving said pump, means for au* tomaticallyconnecting said motor with said pump when the speed of said motorreaches a. predetermined value, means controlled by the pressure offluid in said tank for automatically starting and stopping said motor,and means directly actuated by the flow of fluid from said pump forrendering said starting means inoperative.

13. The combination with a tank, of a pump for supplying fluid to saidtank, an internal combustion engine for driving said pump, a fluid motorfor starting said internal combustion engine, and means controlled bythe pressure in said tank and directly by the flow of fluid from saidpump for automatically starting and stopping said fluid motor.

14. The combination with a tank, a. pump for supplying fluid to saidtank, an internal combustion engine for driving said pump, and a fluidmotor for starting said internal combustion engine, of a valve locatedbetween said pump and tank for controlling the passage of Huid to saidmotor, and means for closing said valve immediately said pump startspumping.

15. In combination with a fluid pressure system comprising a tank, apump, a conduit connecting said pump with said tank, driving means forsaid pump, starting means for said driving means, fluid conveying meansbetween said conduit and said starting means, a valve therein, and meansfor effecting a pressure differential in said conduit to close saidvalve.

16. In combination with a fluid pressure system comprising a tank, apump, a conduit between said tank and pump, driving means for said pump,means for effecting a pressure differential in said conduit, startingmeans for said driving` means, fluid-convey ing means comprising a valvebetween said conduit and said starting means, means tending to open saidvalve, and a tube adapted to convey high pressure fluid from saidconduit to said valve to close the same.

17. In combination with a fluid pressure system comprising a tank, apump, a conduit therebetween, driving means for said pump, startingmeans for said driving means, fluid-conveying means between said conduitand said starting means, a valve for said conveying means, a springtending to open said valve, and means whereby said valve isautomatically closed upon actuation of said pump.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 1st day of May,1922.

CHARLES W. DENNIS. Witnesses:

EDNA V. GUsTAFsoN, EMILE J. BOURGEOIS.

